Gravity simulator and exercizing device

ABSTRACT

The invention is comprised of a beem mounted on a pedestal so as to swing full circle in the horizontal plane and vertically for a limited distance. A sliding counterweight powered by an electric motor at one end provides any degree of simulated weightlessness to any person on the other end of the beem for purposes of training in simulated weightless condition as in space travel and as an aid in exercising on Earth.

United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,900,195

Preston 1 Aug. 19, 1975 [54l GRAVITY SIMULATOR AND EXERCIZING 3,161,968 12/1964 DeBoy et a1. 35/12 C DEVICE 3,449,843 6/1969 Richter et 31..., 35 12 P 3,573,865 4/1971 Annas 272/58 X Inventor: Jam s st 1633 3,581,739 6/1971 Brandt 272 57 A Campbell, Phoenix, Ariz. 85015 [12] Filed, June 17 1974 Primary E.raminer-Richard C. Pinkham i Assistant E.\ami11erJoseph R. Taylor [21 Appl. No.: 480,234

[57] ABSTRACT [52] U.S. Cl 272/57 R; 35/12 P The invention is comprised of a beem mounted on a [51] Int. Cl. A6318 23/04 pedestal so as to swing full circle in the horizontal [58] Field of Search 272/1 R, 6, 7, 24, 33 R, plane and vertically for a limited distance. A sliding 272/33 B, 36, 54, 55, 57 R, 58, 60 R, 60 A; counterweight powered by an electric motor at one 35/12 R, 12 C, 12 E, 12 P end provides any degree of simulated weightlessness to any person on the other end of the beem for pur [56] References Cited poses of training in simulate-d weightless condition as UNITED STATES PATENTS in space travel and as an aid in exercising on Earth.

1,941,024 12/1933 Stanzel 35/12 P 1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figures 15 q E 6 2g 20 is 5 i7 18 17 3 1 i4 15 B A PATENTED M151 91975 3,900,195

Fliil WWW GRAVITY SIMULATOR AND EXERCIZING DEVICE The object of the invention set forth in the specification is to provide any degree of weightlessness from the normal one gravity on Earth to total weightlessncss at the option of any person utilizing the device by electrically controlling the counterweight on the other end of the boom of the device to simulate conditions of nearweightlessness and total weightlessness of outer space and on minor planets such as the moon and for exercising on Earth. The device makes it possible for a person to run and jump many feet into the air with normal or average muscle power.

Referring to the drawing,

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of the device as viewed along lines l-I of FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the device.

Referring to the drawing in more detail, FIG. I represents the pedestal of the device and is composed of material such as concrete. The metal cylinder 3 is embedded in the pedestal 27 and extends for a distance in the vertical direction. The axle 2 is rotatably mounted within the metal cylinder 3 and extends for a distance above the metal cylinder 3 in the vertical direction. The metal slip rings 4 and 26 are concentrically fastened through insulating means around the axle 2 so as to be out of electrical contact with the axle 2. Brushes 28 are fastened to the metal cylinder 3 through insulating means so as to be out of electrical contact with said metal cylinder 3 and contact their respective slip rings 4 and 28 to conduct electric current from wires A8 to the slip rings 4, 26 respectively from any source of electricity such as ordinary house current of 110 volts or less.

The fork l is fastened to the axle 2 and extends from the axle 2 in a vertical direction for a distance. Within the fork l, the boom 5 pivots in the vertical plane on pivot 21 which horizontally extends from one side of fork I through boom 5 and through the other side of fork I. This renders the boom 5 moveable for a limited distance in the vertical plane and for 360 full circle in the horizontal plane through the rotation of the axle 2 in the metal cylinder 3. The stationary counterweight l permanently counteracts the weight of the long end of the boom and its affixed equipment minus the weight of the moveable sliding counterweight 12. The counterweight 12 is fastened to the top of the moveable platform 13 which is suspended from rollers within the channel rails 14 through connectors 22. The two channcl rails extend from the stationary counterweight in a direction parallel to each other and to the boom 5 for a distance and are held in place at their other ends by the two braces 18 which are fastened to the boom 5 through the horizontal projections 19.

The threaded rod 7 runs through female threads in the moveable platform 13 to move the moveable platform 13 back and forth in one direction or the other along the channel rails 14 and boom 5 when the threaded rod 7 is turned around its own longitudinal axis in either one direction of rotation or the other by the electric motor 6 and gearing means 16. The electric motor 6 and its gearing means I6 and the threaded rod 7 are similar to those utilized in electric garage openers. The channel rails 14 are also similar to those utilized in electric garage openers. The electric motor 6 and its gearing means 16 are held in place by the beam 17 which extends in a horizontal direction from one brace 18 to the other. The electric motor 6 is reversible so as to rotate the threaded rod 7 in either the clockwise or counterclockwise direction of rotation to move the platform 13 and moveable counterweight 12 in either direction along channel rails 14.

Any person utilizes the device by strapping himself or herself into the U-shaped control panel 20 by means of safety belt straps 29 which are fastened to the control panel 20. The control panel includes the electric switch E whose electrical contacts are in electrical connection through electrical circuits AB with slip rings 4, 26. The three-position electric switch E is moveable into electrical contact with alternate circuits AB and CD which are in electrical connection with the electric motor 6 to energize the motor 6 to rotate in either the clockwise or counterclockwise direction of rotation or in neutral at the option of the person utilizing the device at any time.

The control panel 20 is fastened to two right angle braces 9 which form a sort of yoke that extends from the control panel 20. The yoke braces 9 and control panel pivot on pivot 24 which horizontally extends from one yoke brace 9 through the end section of the boom 5 and through the other yoke brace 9. The control panel 20 is maintained in the horizontal plane at all times by means of the leveling rod 15 which is pivoted at one end on the pivot 8 which horizontally extends through one side of the fork 1, through the leveler rod 15 and through the other side of fork l. Extending in a direction parallel with the boom 5, the leveling rod 15 is pivoted at its other end on the pivot 23 which extends through the vertical arm of the yoke brace 9, through the leveling rod 15 and through the vertical arm of the second yoke brace 9. The idler braces 25 are designed to prevent the leveling rod 15 from vibrating too violently in the operation of the device.

In the operation of the device for exercise or for training for space travel, the counterweight 12 is normally moved to the long end of the boom 5 whenever any person straps himself or herself in the device at normal one gravity weight on the Earth. Walking, trotting, or running in a circle around the axis of the axle 2, the weight of any person utilizing the device can then be reduced to any degree approaching total weightlessness on the circular exercise path by means of utilizing the electrical switch E to energize the electric motor 6 to move the moveable counterweight 12 toward the other end of the boom 5. Approaching weightlessness while exercising around the circular path, any person is then able to leap very high into the air with each step. At every level above the ground while ascending in the vertical 3] direction and likewise while descending in the direction 32 toward the ground, the control panel 20 remains horizontal through the action of the levelling rod 15, vertical arms of the braces 9, and the fork 1 so that it is possible for any person utilizing the device to remain in the vertical position and in control of the device. The device can be constructed on a heavy pedestal 27 so that it is transportable at times or it can be fastened to the ground permanently with a smaller pedestal. Safety features to prevent any other persons from being hit or injured on the ground by the device are a matter of selections in engineering and can be included in the product whenever deemed necessary.

Having thus described the invention. the following is claimed:

l. A gravity simulator and exercising device comprising: a pedestal on which a boom is pivotallymounted through support means so as to rotate 360 in a circle around a vertical axis of the pedestal and so as to swing for a limited distance in vertical planes around a horizontal axis; the boom extending for a distance on either side of the support means; an clectrically-moveable counterweight moveably-mounted to the boom so that the counterweight is longitudinally-moveablc to any position along the length of the boom that extends between the support means and one end of the boom; pivoting around a horizontal axis perpendicular to the line of the boom, a vertical member pivotally-mounted at one end to the opposite exercise end of the boom; a horizontal member being attached at one end to the vertical member therefrom extending for a horizontal distance beyond the end of the boom in a direction parallel to the vertical plane in which the boom swings; at a vertical distance from the boom, a levelling rod pivotally-fastened at one end to the support means and therefrom extending parallel with the boom for a distance to where the levelling rod is pivotally-mounted on its other end to one end of the vertical member of the boom so that the levelling rod operates to keep the vertical member parallel with the vertical axis of the pedestal and to keep the horizontal member horizontal at all times regardless of the changes in the angles of the boom above the horizontal; the invention including electrically-powered means to move the counterweight in either longitudinal direction along the boom so as to provide any person exercizing on the horizontal member of the boom with any degree of weightlessness ranging from one gravity to zero gravity above the surface of the earth while he or she moves in the vertical and horizontal directions around the pedestal; electrical switching means located on the horizontal member of the device to electrically-connect the electricallypowered means with any source of electricity to provide any person utilizing the device with means to electrically-activate the electrically-powered means so as to electrically-control his or her weightlessness by controlling the position of the counterweight on the opposite end of the boom and then to electricallydisconnect the electrically-powered means at his or her option; fastened to the horizontal member, safety belt means operating to restrain the body of any person utilizing the device from falling any substantial distance from the horizontal member at altitudes above the surface on which the exercizing device sits; the adjustable counterweight of the device thereby operating to provide any occupant with total and near-total weightlessness so as to enable him or her to leap to great heights in the vertical direction and to great lengths in horizontal directions while exercizing along the circular exercise path around the vertical axis of the pedestal of the device. 

1. A gravity simulator and exercising device comprising: a pedestal on which a boom is pivotalLy-mounted through support means so as to rotate 360* in a circle around a vertical axis of the pedestal and so as to swing for a limited distance in vertical planes around a horizontal axis; the boom extending for a distance on either side of the support means; an electricallymoveable counterweight moveably-mounted to the boom so that the counterweight is longitudinally-moveable to any position along the length of the boom that extends between the support means and one end of the boom; pivoting around a horizontal axis perpendicular to the line of the boom, a vertical member pivotally-mounted at one end to the opposite exercise end of the boom; a horizontal member being attached at one end to the vertical member therefrom extending for a horizontal distance beyond the end of the boom in a direction parallel to the vertical plane in which the boom swings; at a vertical distance from the boom, a levelling rod pivotally-fastened at one end to the support means and therefrom extending parallel with the boom for a distance to where the levelling rod is pivotally-mounted on its other end to one end of the vertical member of the boom so that the levelling rod operates to keep the vertical member parallel with the vertical axis of the pedestal and to keep the horizontal member horizontal at all times regardless of the changes in the angles of the boom above the horizontal; the invention including electrically-powered means to move the counterweight in either longitudinal direction along the boom so as to provide any person exercizing on the horizontal member of the boom with any degree of weightlessness ranging from one gravity to zero gravity above the surface of the earth while he or she moves in the vertical and horizontal directions around the pedestal; electrical switching means located on the horizontal member of the device to electrically-connect the electricallypowered means with any source of electricity to provide any person utilizing the device with means to electrically-activate the electrically-powered means so as to electrically-control his or her weightlessness by controlling the position of the counterweight on the opposite end of the boom and then to electrically-disconnect the electrically-powered means at his or her option; fastened to the horizontal member, safety belt means operating to restrain the body of any person utilizing the device from falling any substantial distance from the horizontal member at altitudes above the surface on which the exercizing device sits; the adjustable counterweight of the device thereby operating to provide any occupant with total and near-total weightlessness so as to enable him or her to leap to great heights in the vertical direction and to great lengths in horizontal directions while exercizing along the circular exercise path around the vertical axis of the pedestal of the device. 